Over 1,200 protests by over 150 organizations – civil rights groups and labor unions to LGBTQ+ advocates, veterans and electoral reform activists – are planned across all 50 US states, with gatherings also expected at the Capitol and the National Mall in Washington DC, reported the Associated Press.

The movement, which has rapidly gained momentum, is said to be possibly the largest single-day protest since Trump assumed office for his second term in January this year.

My wife and I will be attending a protest in the suburban town of Leesburg, about 20 miles due west of DC. We thought about heading down to the mall to attend the large protest rally in DC, but decided against it because of the anticipated big crowds. It will still be fun and hopefully there will be an amazing turnout to support protests of the policies of the current administration and its threats to our economy and maybe to be trite, our way of life. I think there is merit in the protest as long as it possibly exceeds the expectations of the attendance around the country and abroad. I still don’t think it will have much of an impact on the President, but it is possible that the optics will be enough to maybe force a little change, especially if they continue to recognize the fact that Doge is pretty much hated by most. That in itself would be a win.

I am critical of the Democratic party and others who oppose the administration. I just don’t think that they bring enough firepower to the fight. For example, at the sort of State of the Union address, the democrats brought out little round signs that the held up to protest comments that Trump said at the speech. The only Representative with the guts to stand up in a vociferous display of opposition was Rep. Al Green of Texas. Republicans yelled and screamed at him to “shut up” and sit down. Rather quickly he was removed from the chambers. What support did the Democrats show for their colleague? They held up a little sign. How pathetic. A show of support would have been a mass exodus from the chambers.

Stop Being So Damn Nice!

My wife, in preparation for this hopefully massive rally, showed me a short clip of a guy telling us what to do, what to wear, things to bring and how to act at the rally. I do not remember his name, but I do remember that he was a fairly soft spoken guy and reminded me of a mom or a dad gently telling his child what to do. Don’t upset too many people. Protest, but be kind and gentle. And above all, if you get caught in a “civil act of disobedience”, go gently into the night. Tammy (my wife) had the best of intentions and applaud her for showing this to me and I suppose she shared it with some friends. Caution is good. I probably should show more of it. But that is a topic for another time.

The current administration and all of its followers are much more aggressive. They shout and yell and scream at their detractors. Do you think they would have held up little silly signs? Not a chance. Do you think that in preparation for a rally or a protest that they would have put forth a kindly gentleman to remind them to wear sunscreen? Hell no! Bring a gun, bring pepper spray and be loud. If you get caught in that ubiquitous “protest of civil disobedience”, run. And let’s be clear. I do not support this type of behavior. It is abhorrent and just plain wrong. Especially if your tenants are dead wrong and are supported by no fact or logic.

But I firmly believe that we as opposers of this administration have got to stop being so timid. For today’s rally, if 100,000 protestors show up, listen to your speakers and then maybe March to the White House, all 100,000 of you and encircle it. Close off the streets in DC. Be loud, be raucous. Be civil but not necessarily too nice. When the president says something stupid or wrong, call him out loudly in print, by voice and on social media platforms. And make sure that he sees it. The same with his followers in Congress, the senate and now unfortunately the courts. Call them out. Let them know that we intend to get them voted out of office. That their jobs and reputations are on the line. I cannot stress this enough. STOP BEING SO DAMN NICE!

We can be complacent and except the carnage that is going on in our country. Or we can fight back. I will choose to fight back. Who’s with me.

“So what’s this lyin’ around sh*t. It’s not over until we say it’s over”